The BEST Headlight Restoration (pictures)

[SirThomas88]

Okay, so I did this yesterday on my headlights. Here's what I used and the before and after pictures.

It costs $22.99 at Advance Auto Parts. You follow the instructions included, and with a little sanding and applying liquid (all included) you get great results! Took me about 30 mins per headlight. My headlights had severe yellow discoloration, fogginess, and some scratches.



Before (thats not dirt):


After #1:


After #2:

[SleeperSolara]

Good job man.

[DSM_Lara]

lol... That's the same one I used. Bought it from Walmart.

[SirThomas88]

lol... That's the same one I used. Bought it from Walmart.

Cool, how'd it work out for you? This was the second time I used it and both times worked wonders.

[DSM_Lara]

Only once when I first bought this car back in December 09. But, I have been using it for a while. Used it on my Eclipse(s). Overall I like the outcome.

[Solarizona]

lol... That's the same one I used. Bought it from Walmart.

Same here. Stuff works awesome. I also got two packs from Amazon for $20 during a sale. Only negative for me was my headlights started getting dull again after about 18 months, but I thought that was pretty good durability.

[SirThomas88]

I should clarify, I've used that stuff twice, on two different sets of headlights.

lol... That's the same one I used. Bought it from Walmart.

Same here. Stuff works awesome. I also got two packs from Amazon for $20 during a sale. Only negative for me was my headlights started getting dull again after about 18 months, but I thought that was pretty good durability.

Heck yeah, better than paying for a new set!

[TRDSleeper]

I always saw this kit at Walmart and tempted to try it but wasn't sure if it works or not. Now I know it does. There's so many of these headlight restoration kits nowadays from all sorts of brands like Mother's, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Rain-X, etc. It's hard to know which ones work or not.

[SirThomas88]

Yeah, I've tried a couple of them before. One had me putting a special buffing bit into my drill and applying cream to it... did hardly anything.

This stuff is for real though.

[St.Anton]

Yooo just tried that Turtle Wax stuff. It was alllllriiighhttt.



Before and After



Had my detailer homie go at it afterwards. He got even better results.

Before and After

[2Gud2BTru]

If you want a cheaper way, try this: buy meguiars $8 PlastX clear plastic cleaner and protecter. first wash the headlights with some dish soap and water. then rinse, dry. After that, put the PlastX on like a basic towel, rub the stuff onto the headlight. IMMEDIATELY AFTER covering the entire headlight, wipe off with a dry side of the towel. Buff out any excess. Repeat any time you wash your car (optional). Though scratches may not be removed, the clarity of the actual headlight plastic is crystal clear. i have been using this for months and my headlights look great.

[DSM_Lara]

Had to use this product again this past Friday... Front is restored and back still needed to be done.

[1gSE]

I used the 3M stuff before. SirThomas is that what you used? It work pretty well, but I didn't keep up with it, so now the right side needs some more work. I might be able to just use some polish and that should take care of it

[Billdo]

I used standard rubbing compound, per the advice of a friend who has a detailing shop, and it looks great. He said these kits most times are just compound or at least mostly compound anyway.

[SirThomas88]

I didn't use the 3M stuff. I used the "CV" brand stuff pictured in the original post. The other day I bought and used the Turtle Wax brand headlight restoration kit and it worked about as well as the CV brand.

The CV brand has about half the steps than the Turtle Wax, but the final step in the CV brand one you have to be careful or you'll mess up the whole process. The final step in the Turtle Wax one is more forgiving.